The Chicago Bears are in a somewhat unfamiliar position. For the first time in years, they aren’t picking in the top 10 of the NFL draft. Not only that, but they also have limited salary cap space, meaning it’s unlikely they will do much shopping on the veteran market come March. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson must find a way not only to keep the team strong but also to improve it despite limited resources. The first step in that process is figuring out which players they must keep and who they may have to let walk.

Matt Bowen of ESPN did a study on the upcoming free agency landscape, pinpointing who he considers the top 50 players set to hit the open market. There are no-brainers like Trey Hendrickson, George Pickens, Jaelen Phillips, and Breece Hall. Fans might be surprised to find out that only two Bears players cracked the list: cornerback Nahshon Wright and safety Jaquan Brisker. All-Pro safety Kevin Byard was an honorable mention.

This paints a clear picture of who the Bears may have to let walk.

37. Nahshon Wright, CB

2025 team: Chicago Bears | Age entering 2026 season: 27

What he brings: A long, linear cornerback at 6-foot-4, 199 pounds, Wright had a career-best five interceptions in 2025. He took one back for a touchdown and also broke up seven passes. Though Wright lacks high-end recovery speed, his length, play instincts and production will increase his value for a defense that needs help in man coverage and Cover 2.

44. Jaquan Brisker, S

2025 team: Chicago Bears | Age entering 2026 season: 27

What he brings: A downhill safety who creates disruption near the line of scrimmage, Brisker played in all 17 games this season after missing 12 in 2024 with a concussion. He’s an alley filler who can blitz, plus he can play over the top in the deep half. In four seasons with the Bears, Brisker has had four interceptions, seven sacks and 14 pass breakups.

The Chicago Bears likely will let those two walk.

It hurts because Wright was such a key part of the team’s playoff push, collecting five interceptions after being thrust into the starting lineup due to injuries. Chicago has already given Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon contract extensions. They can’t afford a third. Brisker, meanwhile, played his first full season, never missing a game. He was outstanding in the playoffs, especially against Los Angeles. The problem is his production has never really stood out, with 93 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 interception. His versatility is valuable, but not enough to warrant the $10 million or more a year to keep him.

These are the sorts of calculated sacrifices good teams must make these days. Such is the reality of the salary cap era. The Chicago Bears must make a tough decision. Who do they feel they can replace most easily without losing steam? Wright and Brisker fit that profile. Both are good players, but neither is a star. Those types of players hit the market all the time, waiting for other teams to overpay them. Depending on how the Bears approach free agency, the two may help by securing future compensatory picks.

Caleb Williams has never been shy about playing with the narrative, and his latest social-media move added fuel to an already popular Bears offseason dream.

On Wednesday, Caleb Williams reposted Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, immediately catching the attention of Bears fans. It’s not the first time Williams has done this. Dating back to college and now into the NFL, he’s shown an awareness of the spotlight and has occasionally leaned into speculation with subtle hints rather than direct comments.

The Crosby connection isn’t random. Crosby has consistently praised Williams publicly, both in interviews and on his podcast, calling him special and highlighting his competitiveness. After the Bears matchup against the Raiders last season, Williams took it a step further, saying Crosby was “the best player I’ve probably ever played against.” That’s not light praise coming from a quarterback who has faced elite defenders at every level.

From a football standpoint, the fit is obvious. Chicago’s defense is already strong, but adding a relentless edge presence like Crosby would immediately elevate it into elite territory. The reality, however, is complicated. Any trade for Crosby would almost certainly require significant draft capital and likely another player going the other way. It’s a swing but not an impossible one.

Until something definitively shuts the door, Williams and Crosby will continue to be linked. Whether it’s intentional or just playful engagement, Williams knows exactly what he’s doing. And Bears fans will keep dreaming until the nail is finally in the coffin or the unthinkable actually happens.

Chicago Bears 2026 Mock Offseason: Controlled Aggression

A short post can sometimes say a lot. When C.J. Gardner-Johnson tweeted “Too chill for the run around.” it immediately caught the attention of Bears fans and league observers alike. The message on Wednesday was vague, but in the context of the offseason, it naturally raises questions about where things stand between Gardner-Johnson and the Chicago Bears.

“Too chill for the run around.”

Whether intentional or not, the post invites speculation that contract discussions, particularly around an extension, may not be moving smoothly. The Bears have several tough roster decisions looming, and Gardner-Johnson sits near the top of that list. His arrival in Chicago proved to be a massive win for the front office. Not only was he one of the best value signings in the NFL last season, but he also became a stabilizing force in the secondary almost immediately.

When injuries hit Chicago’s defensive backfield, Gardner-Johnson’s versatility, confidence, and leadership were invaluable. He brought edge, swagger, and reliability to a unit that desperately needed all three. Simply put, the defense looked better with him on the field.

The challenge now may come down to cost. Gardner-Johnson played himself into a bigger payday, and that success could ultimately price him out of Chicago. Still, depending on his asking price, the Bears should make every reasonable effort to bring him back. Impact players like this aren’t easy to replace, and Chicago knows firsthand what they’d be losing.

Chicago Bears 2026 Mock Offseason: Controlled Aggression

The Chicago Bears knew there was a chance that their breakout season in 2025 would come at a price. When a team that has been losing for a long time suddenly starts winning, other teams immediately become suspicious. It is likely said team hired some great coaches and it might be wise to pilfer them. Sure enough, it didn’t take long for one of the Bears’ top assistants to get lured away. Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who’d just helped D’Andre Swift to his best season and turned rookie Kyle Monangai into a great contributor, left to become the offensive coordinator in Kansas City.

Bieniemy had remained silent on the topic during the transition, but he finally got the chance to speak up during an interview with FOX4 Morning News in Kansas City. He revealed that leaving wasn’t an easy decision. Bieniemy had actually planned to stay, hoping to help the Bears finish what they started this season. However, what pushed him into it was his close relationship with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Once he got the call to return home (Bieniemy was in Kansas City from 2013 to 2022), he couldn’t say no.

It’s hard to judge Eric Bieniemy for that decision.

He has deep roots with the Chiefs, having won two Super Bowls with them and played a pivotal role in developing quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Players loved him. His departure in 2023 was less about him being unhappy there and more about trying to improve his chances of becoming a head coach. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out. His two stints as an offensive coordinator in Washington and at UCLA fell flat. After getting reinvigorated with the success in Chicago this past year, he’s ready to resume his original post.

Replacing him won’t be easy. Eric Bieniemy is widely regarded as one of the top running backs coaches in the business. Early rumors indicate the Bears are considering veteran Eric Studesville. He’d be a good one. While losing Bieniemy stings, there’s little reason to dwell on it. He had valid reasons for leaving. As much as he loved his time in Chicago, his true home was calling. You can’t stand in a man’s way when that happens. Here’s hoping he finds what he’s looking for.

The Cleveland Browns always seem to find a way to make a bad situation worse. That was on full display this week. Everybody knew they’d already fired Kevin Stefanski as head coach, who was quickly given the same job with the Atlanta Falcons. The organization conducted a search with a baffling process that included the requirement to keep Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator, as well as completing essays and homework in interviews. Unsurprisingly, candidates backed out. Then, when the Browns finally chose their guy, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Schwartz was so angry he told people close to him he wasn’t staying. You can imagine that didn’t go over well with superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett.

Sure enough, the future Hall of Famer put up a post on Instagram that summed everything up. It was a not-so-subtle hint that he’s reached the end of his patience with the Browns.

There has always been speculation that Garrett would demand a trade from Cleveland if the team mishandled the process. Sure enough, they did exactly that. If the door wasn’t open before, it is now. Don’t forget the Chicago Bears already checked in on Garrett’s availability last year. You can bet they will try again. He would be the missing ingredient to making their defense a force.

Myles Garrett is a rare specimen worth the price.

This is an all-time talent. Though 30 years old, history says players of his caliber can dominate well into their 30s. We’re talking another five or six seasons of peak production. Is that worth the likely two 1st round picks it would take to get him? This is the question the Bears must weigh carefully. Do they think Garrett is good enough to push this team over the top? They know they have a top 10 offense in place. Getting the defense to even top 15 status should make them legitimate contenders in the NFC.

It is a spot the team has been in before. They went all in when trading for Khalil Mack in 2018. It paid immediate dividends that year, but the Bears never fully capitalized on his presence. Myles Garrett is a better player, but also older than Mack was. The key difference this time is the quarterback situation. Caleb Williams is a significant upgrade over Mitch Trubisky. That should keep the Bears in an extended window to contend long enough to survive losing those picks.